A recent study in New Zealand found a significant association between nitrate-contaminated water and premature births. The study, which analyzed over 735,000 births between 2008 and 2021, found that exposure to nitrates in drinking water may be responsible for around 120 premature births per year.
Nitrate Pollution and the Dairy Industry
The issue of nitrate pollution is particularly contentious in New Zealand, where the dairy sector is a significant contributor to the economy. The use of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers and livestock manure runoff are major sources of nitrate pollution in the country’s waterways.
Environmental groups, such as Greenpeace, are calling for stricter regulations on the dairy industry to reduce nitrate pollution. The group’s campaigner, Will Appelbe, stated that it is necessary to stop nitrate pollution at the source by regulating the intensive dairy industry and limiting the amount of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers that can be applied to the land.
The study’s findings have implications for public health and drinking water standards in New Zealand. The country’s Ministry of Primary Industries has not yet responded to requests for comment on the study.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
